400m cut at PFI hospitals

Six PFI hospitals have had their combined value cut by more than £400m.

The government last week announced that £1.5bn would be spent on the hospitals instead of the original budget of £1.9m.

The government said the future of 11 other hospitals would be decided by the autumn.

The University Hospitals Leicester NHS trust has suffered the biggest cut, from £904m to £711m. The £382 North Staffordshire project has been cut to £272m and the Walsall hospital scheme has been reduced from £188m to £141m.

The other three NHS trusts affected are South Devon Healthcare, Salford Royal Hospitals, and Tameside and Glossop Acute Services.

All six projects have been under review by the Department of Health since last January following cost concerns.

Andy Burnham, health minister, said the cuts were to needed to ensure value for money.